Interview: Autumn Hurlbert of SOMETHING ROTTEN

Before appearing in front of the entire world on MTV's 2008 LEGALLY BLONDE casting series, actress Autumn Hurlbert had been honing her stage skills since childhood. And, although she came up second in the televised competition (still receiving a contract in the Broadway production!), Autumn left the show certain of her drive to create art without the need for fame. Now, she is touring with the recent New York hit SOMETHING ROTTEN, and I caught up with her in Houston, where the show made a stop on their way to Dallas' Winspear Opera House.

Name: Autumn Hurlbert

Hometown: "I was actually born in Montana, [and] nobody's from there. I grew up in Arizona and I went to school in Colorado. I'm sort of a Westerner!"

Current Role: Portia in the national tour of SOMETHING ROTTEN.

Kyle West: Thanks so much for talking with me today. I'd love to start by hearing about your education and early theatre experiences.

Autumn Hurlbert: Of course! I was always kind of a ham and an energetic kid, so my parents got me into music and theatre in early elementary school. My first professional job was in 7th grade. One of my friends in the theatre department was one of the "cool kids" with an agent and stuff, and [the agent] had come to see our school play, and asked if I wanted to audition for a production of BYE BYE BIRDIE at The Herberger Theatre. Somehow I booked it, and that was my first professional job! As I went into junior high, I think my parents noticed I had a thirst and talent for it, and they told me, "If you really want to do this, you can go to college for theatre." I ended up choosing college in Colorado because I wanted to get away from home [laughs], but I was not ready for New York or LA. I wanted to go to a big university where I could take philosophy, and business and politics, and hike and do all the things while studying theatre. I went to do the acting program and I ended up graduating from the musical theatre program. I moved to New York directly after college and I've been really lucky. I've had a lot of different survival jobs, but I've been working consistently in theatre and film since moving to New York. I'm really, really lucky.

Kyle: I hope you're not too sick of talking about your experience on MTV's Legally Blonde: The Musical - The Search for Elle Woods, because I was obsessed with this when it aired. The challenges they put you all through seemed over-the-top at times; what was it like behind the scenes?

Autumn: You know, my experience was really interesting. I was so proud to be part of something that exposed a large population to musical theatre and the process we go through: how we stay in shape for our jobs, what auditioning is like, all the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into being an acting, and how "overnight success" is really years and years of hard work before it finally pays off. So, in that aspect, I was so honored to be part of and it was a great experience for me getting my name on the map. Even now, almost ten years later, and as we're traveling with the show, I've had a couple times where I've been recognized; it's so surreal it's hilarious. There were parts of that show that were totally over the top. Reality television is in no way based in reality, so it was really stressful. I saw some aspects of sides of the business that were kind of disenchanting. It was...how do I say this nicely...it wasn't a bad experience in any way, but it also wasn't a real experience. It made me jaded a little, not because I didn't win, but because there were aspects of this business I didn't realize. It made me re-center myself and ask myself, "Do I want to be in the arts because I have a passion and I want to share what I have to give, or do I want to be famous?" That's a hard ego twist to go through, but luckily I came out of it on the other side realizing I love theatre and I love art, and I love what it does for other people. So, I realized the size effect of being famous [laughs] isn't always worth it!

Kyle: You've also had some great opportunities off-Broadway and in regional theatres, and you appeared in NBC's The Sound of Music Live! special. Looking back on your resume, are there any experiences that stand out as favorites?

Autumn: The Sound of Music Live! was such an incredible experience! But I think any time I get to work on a new piece of theatre is always a standout because you give so much of yourself and you really get the most back. Even if it never goes anywhere from there, you put your heart and soul in there and it's so rewarding. I've gotten to do that with a couple of plays, and [the new musical] NOBODY LOVES YOU at Second Stage. When you go through that trial and error with a new work, all those people really become your family, too.

Kyle: Jumping ahead to SOMETHING ROTTEN, how would you describe the show to someone who might not be familiar with the plot?

Autumn: I would say that this is a musical for everybody. It's a musical for people who love musicals, it's a musical for people who hate musicals, or if you love Shakespeare or hate Shakespeare. It's just really funny and there's something for everyone. My husband is traveling with me, along with my two-year-old son. My husband has said that every time he brings someone new [to see the show], whether it be his 93-year-old mentor [or] his 17-year-old sister, everyone is falling out of their seat laughing by the end of the show. We dare you to leave the show not in a better mood than when you came in.

Kyle: How does your character Portia fit into the story?

Autumn: The show is set during the Renaissance, and you know you can't have the Renaissance without some Puritans. I play a Puritan who has led this sheltered life under the thumb of her father, who is played by Scott Cote. She quite literally runs into one of the heroes of the story, Nigel Bottom, and he's a poet and they just instantly fall in love. You find out that Portia has been reading not just the Bible, but all of the poetry and Shakespeare, and now she's seeing all of this romantic writing that she's been reading come to life in her life. Portia is just all love, and there's not a sad or mean bone in her body. I get to be a deliriously happy idiot onstage. I love it!

Kyle: Well, I know you have a performance tonight, so I won't keep you. We're excited to have SOMETHING ROTTEN in Dallas next week. Enjoy Houston this week, and we will see you soon!

Autumn: Aww, thank you so much!

SOMETHING ROTTEN opens at Winspear Opera House on Tuesday, June 13 and performs through June 25th. For tickets and more information, visit www.ATTPAC.org.

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